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<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">The letters from PhARMA opposed to this Med EPR bill and in support by law enforcement tell the story. I highly recommend you read them
both.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#1F497D">Heidi<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;color:#221D4D">Heidi Sanborn</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;color:#221D4D">
</span><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#221D4D">|</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;color:#221D4D">
<b>Executive</b> <b>Director<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"><img width="229" height="89" id="Picture_x0020_7" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D39BF8.E9A3FEF0" alt="cid:image001.jpg@01D1964F.48328BF0"></span><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;color:#221D4D"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:2.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#221D4D">C: (916) 217-1109
</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#221D4D">|
</span><span style="color:#002060"><a href="mailto:heidi@nsaction.us"><span style="color:#002060">heidi@nsaction.us</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:2.0pt;color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#1F497D">
</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nationalstewardshipactioncouncil"><span style="color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="27" height="26" id="Picture_x0020_8" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D39BF8.E9A3FEF0" alt="cid:image002.jpg@01D1964F.48328BF0"></span></a><span style="color:black"> <img border="0" width="27" height="28" id="Picture_x0020_9" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D39BF8.E9A3FEF0" alt="cid:image003.jpg@01D1964F.48328BF0"> </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-stewardship-action-council"><span style="color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="27" height="26" id="Picture_x0020_10" src="cid:image004.jpg@01D39BF8.E9A3FEF0" alt="cid:image004.jpg@01D1964F.48328BF0"></span></a><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/category/the-regulars/pharmalot/"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#1FADB6;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1.5pt">PHARMALOT</span></a></span><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:30.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Pharma struggles to ward off yet another drug take-back program</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">By</span><span style="color:black;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1.5pt;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none"> <u>ED
SILVERMAN</u> <u><span style="color:#1FADB6;text-transform:none;letter-spacing:0pt">@Pharmalot</span></u></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1.5pt"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">JANUARY 30, 2018</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-transform:none;letter-spacing:0pt;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1.5pt;text-decoration:none">KEITH
SRAKOCIC/AP</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:72.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">T</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none">he
pharmaceutical industry is playing an intensifying game of whack-a-mole as its latest battle over a so-called drug take-back program is being fought in Washington state, which could become the third state in the nation to force drug makers to finance collections
of unused or unwanted medicines.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">The Washington <u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1FADB6">bill</span></u>,
which was first introduced a year ago, is now gaining momentum in the state House of Representatives, where a vote may occur this week, according to legislators and lobbyists. And the lawmaker who sponsored <u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1FADB6">the
bill</span></u> believes the state Senate will be amenable to the legislation, as well.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">“The pharmaceutical companies are putting
on a full-court press to stop it,” said Strom Peterson, a Democrat. “A company makes a product — in this case, a medicine — and once it leaves their factory, they want to claim they no longer have any responsibility. And I don’t think it’s correct.”</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#999999;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1.5pt"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:#999999;text-decoration:none">ADVERTISEMENT</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-transform:none;letter-spacing:0pt;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">The skirmish reflects a growing trend
among local and state governments to require companies to underwrite the costs of these programs, which are designed to reduce <u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1FADB6">contaminants</span></u> in drinking water and lower the threat of drug abuse stemming
from drugs that linger in household medicine chests.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court <u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1FADB6">denied</span></u> an
industry request to review a lawsuit filed over a drug take-back program in Alameda County, Calif., lawmakers in different parts of the country have been emboldened to introduce bills to force companies to finance the costs.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Currently, two states — Massachusetts
and Vermont — require companies to underwrite the programs, along with four California cities and 16 counties in California, New York, and Washington, according to the Product Stewardship Institute, a nonprofit that supports drug take-back programs.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Local and state governments argue that
drug makers are capable of paying for the programs, since the companies generate substantial revenue doing business in those jurisdictions. Annual prescription drug sales in the state of Washington are estimated at $5.9 billion according to the WA Secure Medicine
Take-Back Coalition.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">“I don’t think its good business. And
from a state government perspective I don’t think we bear the responsibility for the effects that product can have,” said Peterson, who cited data estimating the cost of a drug take-back program would be about 0.1 percent of annual medicine sales in the state.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">We asked the Pharmaceutical Research
& Manufacturers of America, the industry trade group that, along with individual drug makers, has <u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1FADB6">lobbied</span></u> against the bills, for comment and will update you accordingly.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Last year, though, PhRMA issued a <u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1FADB6">position
paper</span></u> arguing that the proposed take-back program would not achieve its objectives because kiosk drop-offs and mail-back options could prompt diversion. The trade group also indicated that the cost of such a program would cause drug prices to rise.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">And PhRMA reiterated an alternative;
an industry effort called <u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1FADB6">MyOldMeds.com</span></u>, which recommends unused drugs should be placed with cat litter, sawdust, or coffee grinds in plastic bags, and then tossed in the trash. But environmental activists
say this should be a last resort and the Food and Drug Administration recommended this option only when take-back programs are <u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1FADB6">not available</span></u>.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Nonetheless, the programs have generated
increasing interest as the opioid crisis worsens and, consequently, a wide array of organizations representing doctors, nurses, law enforcement officials, and firefighters have lent their support to the bill.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">“The tsunami of opioid abuse and overdose
deaths in our communities is swamping the pharmaceutical industry’s tone-deaf opposition to providing secure take-back for their products,” said Margaret Shield of Community Environmental Health Strategies, who works with government on environment health issues.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Consider the blunt language found in
an <u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1FADB6">open letter</span></u> sent on Jan. 18 by the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs: “It would be ridiculous to expect local law enforcement to take back used motor oil or recalled automobiles.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">“It is equally ridiculous to expect
us to pay for disposal of leftover and expired medicines, which is not a law enforcement duty. It is past time to shift the responsibility for providing drug take-back from public funds to the pharmaceutical industry.”</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Interestingly, the PhRMA trade group
last week sent <u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1FADB6">emails</span></u> to Washington legislators to inform them of a new program launched earlier this month by Walmart that is called <u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1FADB6">DisposeRx</span></u> and
allows people to dispose of leftover medicines in their trash.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Peterson found the timing odd, since
the email could be interpreted as an industry effort to convince lawmakers that the bill was unnecessary. A source familiar with Walmart, meanwhile, told us the retailer is not taking a position on the legislation.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #EEEEEE 1.0pt;padding:15.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">About the Author</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1FADB6">Ed Silverman</span></u></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#999999"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:#999999;text-decoration:none">Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:15.75pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Ed covers the pharmaceutical industry.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><u><span style="color:#1FADB6">ed.silverman@statnews.com</span></u></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.75pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><u><span style="color:#1FADB6">@Pharmalot</span></u></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/stat-plus/latest/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"> <o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
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